Olympiacos – AEK Athens: Greek Cup Semi-Final Preview | OneFootball

Under the guidance of head coach José Luis Mendilibar, Olympiacos have been in exceptional form. The team boasts an impressive 24-match unbeaten streak across all competitions since October last year, securing 16 wins and eight draws during that period. Their domestic performance has been stellar, leading the Super League Greece by two points over AEK Athens. Additionally, the Erythrolefki have made significant strides in European competitions, advancing to the Europa League's Round of 16 after hoisting the UEFA Conference League trophy last season.

AEK Athens, meanwhile, have demonstrated strong performances leading up to this semi-final clash. Their recent fixtures include decisive victories, such as a 3-0 away win against Asteras Tripolis this weekend and a commanding 5-0 home triumph over Panserraikos earlier this month. These results underscore AEK's offensive prowess and solid defensive organisation.

Head-to-Head Dynamics

Historically, Olympiacos have held the upper hand in encounters with AEK Athens. In their last meeting in November, Olympiacos secured a convincing 4-1 victory at home. Across 50 matches between the two sides, Olympiacos have emerged victorious 26 times, while AEK have won 14 encounters, and 10 matches have ended in draws. The goal tally stands at 88-49 in favour of Olympiacos, highlighting their historical dominance in this fixture.

Coach Mendilibar has been consistently starting goalkeeper Alexandros Paschalakis in the Greek Cup matches and this will not change on Wednesday. Konstantinos Tzolakis, the team’s primary starter, was not included in the matchday squad and will be getting some rest. In addition, Costinha is pegged to replace Rodinei on the right side of the defence. Lorenzo Pirola also looks very likely to be starting alongside Giulian Biancone. The left side of the defence remains a question mark as Bruno Onyemaechi has not been deemed tactically ready for a starter role. Francisco Ortega can certainly use the breather ahead of the congested list of fixtures however, with this position remaining open.

Greek wonderkid, Charalampos Kostoulas, has not been included in the squad and there are talks of a potential minor injury. Andre Horta, who came on as a substitute on Sunday and rejuvenated Thrylos’s attack, will almost certainly be starting. His brace in May against AEK was the final dagger in the Kitrinomavri’s chances at a Greek Superleague title last season. Up top, Ayoub El Kaabi, who is beginning to look exhausted, might get some rest. Roman Yaremchuk is rumored to be starting but of course, all that can change with less than 24 hours before kick off.

This semi-final fixture is poised to be a closely contested battle. Olympiacos will look to capitalise on their home advantage and extend their unbeaten streak, while AEK Athens aim to overturn historical trends and secure a favourable result ahead of the second leg. Given both teams' current form, fans can anticipate a match filled with tactical intrigue, individual brilliance, and the passionate intensity characteristic of Greek football rivalries.

With the much-anticipated league derby this coming Sunday at OPAP Arena, both teams will want to be strategic with their starting XI. The second leg will take place in early April but a strong first leg by either team can dictate the pace for this tie moving forward. Both Olympiacos and AEK know that the winner of this aggregate will be strong favorites in the Cup final as the other side of the bracket has OFI Crete and Asteras Tripolis.

With the Greek Playoffs and the Round of 16 on the horizon, Olympiacos are continuing a match-heavy schedule but through it all, they remain in contention in all three competitions.

As the first leg sets the stage, both teams will be eager to gain an advantage, making this a must-watch encounter for football enthusiasts.